Insulation seal for refrigerated cabinets



' Aug. 21, 1951 Filed June 25. 1948 1. M. wHERRY 52,564,943 INSULATIONSEAL FOR REFRIGERATED" CABINETS *A 2 sheets-sheet 1 Aug 21 1951 M.WHERRY 2,564,943

INSULATION SEAL FOR REFRIGERATED CABINETS Filed June 23, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 2l', 1951 INSULATION SEAL FOR REFRIGERATEDCABINETS Isaac M. Wherry, Evansville, Ind., assigner to InternationalHarvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 23,1948, Serial No. 34,803

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cabinet sealing consl-ructions, but moreparticularly to constructions for sealing the insulation medium disposedbetween the inner and outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet.

Constructions heretofore proposed for sealing the insulation between theinner and outer walls in a metal refrigerator cabinet have been directedprimarily to providing a break in the heat iniiow path between the lowinside temperature of the cooled compartment and the higher ambienttemperature outside the cabinet, and, although the necessity formaintaining the insulation in the space between the cabinet walls freefrom moisture has long been recognized, still no suitable constructionhas .been provided for accomplishing this objective. Furthermore, nosuch construction has been proposed that is suitable for accomplishingthe two-fold objective of Iproviding an insulating break, and, at thesame time, preventing the insulating material from becoming wet bybreathing or from leakage of moisture into the insulating space betweenthe walls.

It is a principal object of this invention therefore, to provide animproved seal construction for a metal refrigerator cabinet that, inaddition to providing a heat conducting break between the walls, alsoprevents the ingress of moisture into the insulating material disposedbetween the inner and outer walls of the cabinet.

Another important object is to provide a simplified seal constructionbetween the inner and outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet that ishighly suitable for receiving and retaining fastening means, forcedthereinto from outside the inner or ouler walls, without interrupting orbreaking the 'seal that such construction provides for preventingingress of moisture into the insulation space between said walls.

A further object is to provide a seal conslruction which employs a rigidmember of low heat conducting material, positioned in the space abovethe insulating material and between the inner and outer Walls of arefrigerator cabinet, that is provided wi h channel-like passages in theexterior surfaces thereof which are sealed withA a moisture sealingcompound.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention willbecome apparent as the disclosure is more fully made, in the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, whenread in conjuncion with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front sectional view of a refrigerated milk cooler cabinetin which the invention has been incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end sectional view of a refrigerated milk cooler cabinet inwhich the invention has been incorporated.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view-with the layer of sealing compound omittedof aportion of a refrigerated cabinet provided with the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the end section (shown inthe circle in Fig. 3) of a refrigerated cabinet to which a scuff platehas been added.

Fig. "I is an end sectional view showing one modification of theinvention. y

Although the construction as illustrated is shown as used with a topopening refrigerated milk cooler cabinet, it should be understood thatit may likewise be readily adapted for use with any type of refrigeratedcabinet employing a top opening.

In the preferred embodiment shown a refrigerator cabinet, indicatedgenerally by the numeral III, comprises an outer shell I I havingvertical walls I2 and a bottom I3, and an inner shell Il spaced from theouter shell and likewise having vertical walls I5 and a bottom I6.Cooling coils I6*I ailixed to the wall of the inner shell may beconnected to conventional refrigeration apparatus (not shown).Positioned in the space between the outer and inner shell is the cabinetinsulation Il which may be composed of any of the conventional materialsnormally employed for such purposes.

In accordance with the teachings of this invention a rigid beam-likemember I8 of low heat conducting material is adapted for positioning ontop of the insulation Il and between the inner and outer shells I4 andII, respectively, of the cabinet. Said member I8 may be fabricated as aunitary rectangular member to extend completely about the side and endwalls of the inner shell Il, or it may be fabricated from separatepieces co-extensive with each respective wall and with the individualsections closely abutting one another at the corners thereof, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. The embodimeri*J illustratedindicates this member as comprising individual sections adjacent eachwall, and abutting one another at the corner thereof. Although wood ispreferable for this member, because of its ability to receive and retainscrews or nail fastening means driven therein, it is not intended thatthe invention be limited to the specific use of wood for this purpose.

The member I8 is provided with horizontally extending channels I9 and 20which are routed,

respectively, in the outer and inner faces of the member I8. Saidchannels I9 and 20 are spaced from the bottom surface 2I of the memberi8, for reasons which will presently be apparent. In addition, themember I8 is also provided with a plurality of vertically extendingriser channellike passages 22 and 23, routed, respectively, on the outerand inner faces of said member. Said vertical channels extend from thetop surfaces 24 and 25 respectively, of the horizontally extendingchannels I9 and 20, to the top surface 26 of the member I8, and aredisposed at intervals spaced along the vertical outer and inner faces ofthe member I8. Although it is preferable, for reasons which willpresently beapparent, to have the vertical riser channels 22 and 23disposed opposite one another on the outer and inner faces of the memberI8 it should be understood that this invention is not limited to aconstruction that utilizes that specific disposition of riser channels.

In adapting this invention to a top-opening refrigerator cabinet theouter and inner vshells I I and I4 are assembled in conventionalfashion. one within the other. Next the insulated material I1 ispositioned in the space between said shells and then the member I8 ispositioned in tight-fitting relationship in the space between said innerand outer shells, and, at the same time, pressed against the top surfaceof the insulating material I'I. Suitable fastening means, such as thefiat-headed nails 21, may be employed to iixedly secure the member I8placed in position between the inner and outer shells. The member I8,when so positioned, is preferably spaced slightly below the uppermarginal edgesof the vertical walls I2 and I5, of said outer and innershells, and is adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal plane.

After securely positioning the member I8 a moisture sealing compound 28,of a bituminous material or a material having similar properties, ispoured thereover and allowed to flow through the riser channels 22 and23 to the horizontally extending channels I9 and 20. Upon setting, thiscompound effectively seals the insulation material and the space betweenthe outer and inner shells against the entrance of moisture. Finally, alayer of the sealing compound 28 is spread over the top surface 26 ofthe member I8 to further seal this member against the passage ofmoisture therethrough and into the insulation space between the shells.

In order to improve the appearance of the exposed top surface of theinner and outer shells and the area there between, after pouring thelayer of sealing compound thereover, a scui plate 29, fashionedgenerally as a U-shaped channel, may be positioned to straddle the innerand outer shells, as indicated in Fig. 6. A thermalinsulatinggasket-like mat 38, of rubber, or some suitable equivalent material, isinserted between the scuif plate and said outer and inner shells inorder to avoid direct thermal contact between said plate and the shells.Screw fastening means 3, or the like, may be employed to retain thescuff plate securely fixed in position.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated a modification of the specific embodimentof the vertical riser channels 22 and 23. In this modified embodimentthe vertical riser channels 238L and 22a are angularly disposed insteadof risng perpendicularly from the top surfaces of the horizontalchannels I9 and 20.

It will be readily appreciated that, in addition 4 to providing a highlyeffective and simplified seal construction, this invention also offersa.

radically distinct advantage in that many types 1 of fastening orsecuring means may be driven into the member I8, for afiixment ofaccessories or the like to the exterior of the cabinet, withoutinterrupting or breaking the seal construction to prevent the entranceof moisture into the insulating material or into the insulation spacebetween the shells.

Although only preferred embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated, and described in detail, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that other modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator w-all construction having inner and outer wallsforming an insulating chamber, a heat insulating material and a coolingele- -ment within said chamber, a rigid low-heat conducting memberfixedly positioned between said walls and spaced from the marginal edgesthereof, said member having channel-like passages some of which aredisposed horizontally and spaced from the marginal edges of said memberand others vertically in opposite faces thereof with the verticalpassages extending from said horizontal passages to the upper marginaledges of said member, means comprising sealing compound in said passagesand on the upper surface of said rigid -member and overlying saidvertical passages for sealing the insulating chamber, and covering meansincluding a low-heat conducting resilient gasket-like member positionedover the upper marginal edges of said inner and outer walls and a.channel-like exterior member superposed thereover and xedly secured tosaid walls.

2. A refrigerator wall construction having inner and outer walls formingan insulating chamber, a heat insulating materialand a cooling elementWithin said chamber, a rigidlow-heat conducting and non-metallic memberfixedly positioned between said walls and spaced from the marginal edgesthereof, said member being provided with channel-like passages in thevertical faces thereof and adjacent said walls, means comprising sealingcompound in said passages and a layer-like quantity of said material onthe upper surface of said member that lls the space between said surfaceand the marginal edges of the walls for sealing the insulating chamber,and wall covering means including a low-heat conducting resilientgasket-like member positioned over the upper marginal edges of saidinner and outer walls and a U-shaped exterior member superposedthereover and xedly secured to said walls by fastening means thatpenetrate through said latter member and the gasket and one wall and areimbedded in said rigid member between the walls. Y

3. A wall sealing construction for a. refrigerator of the top-openingtype, comprising: inner and outer wall members spaced apart and formingan insulating chamber therebetween; the upper marginal edges of saidwall members being disposed in the same horizontal plane; heatinsulating material in said chamber; a rigid, nonmeta-llic and low-heatconducting member xedly positioned between said wall members; saidmember being horizontally extending and vertically spaced equi-distantfrom the upper marginal edge of each of said Wall members and havingopposite vertical faces thereof positioned in close fittingrelationship, respectively, with said inner and outer wall members; saidrigid member having a plurality of channels routed in opposite verticalfaces thereof with some of the channels horizontally disposed andvertically spaced from the bottom face of said member, and othersvertically disposed and longitudinally spaced from one another andhaving the vertical channels extending from said horizontal channels tothe upper face of said member; and means comprising sealing compound insaid channels and a. layer-like quantity of said material on the uppersurface of said member and overlying said vertical channels for sealingthe insulation chamber.

4. A refrigerator wall construction having inner and outer walls formingan insulating chamber, a heat insulating material and a, cooling elementwithin said chamber, a rigid low-heat conducting member xedly positionedbetween said walls and spacedfrom tlie marginal edges thereof, saidmember having channel-like passages some of which are disposedhorizontally and spaced from the margin-a1 edges of said member andothers vertically in opposite faces thereof with the vertical passagesextending from said horizontal passages to the upper marginal edges oi'said member, means comprising sealing compound in said passages forsealing the insulating chamber, and covering means including a lowheatconducting resilient gasket-like member positioned over the uppermarginal edges of said inner and outer walls and a channel-like exteriormember superposed thereover and fixedly secured to said walls.

ISAAC M. WHERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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